IOC wants to slim down the Summer Olympics, eventing could be affected

The decision on the Olympic program for Brisbane 2032 will not be made in June, but in the last quarter of 2026, or early 2027 at the latest, announced IOC President Kirsty Coventry at a press conference on 7 May.

But what she was already saying was: “I think the scale will change.” And, “I think it’s fair to say that we are NOT expecting 36 sports in Brisbane.”

36 sports will be represented at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. By comparison, there were ten fewer in London 2012.

IOC Head of Sport Pierre Ducrey then explained how the IOC intends to simplify the Olympic Games.

Disciplines put to the test

Ducrey explained that a breakdown was first made between sports and disciplines. Accordingly, 28 sports were represented in Paris 2024, but 47 disciplines. For example, cycling as a sport is divided into the disciplines of BMX freestyle, BMX racing, mountain biking, road and track racing. Or horse riding in dressage, show jumping and eventing.

The IOC is now planning to streamline the program by putting disciplines within a sport to the test, namely those that require their own competition venue or special adaptations to existing conditions. Because that is what produces additional costs and complications. It would also make the Games more geographically fragmented.

Kirsty Coventry added that the Olympic Games cannot continue to grow indefinitely and that it is necessary to determine how “new, innovative sports and disciplines should be included in the program”.

Versatility as an example

All of this was made public at the IOC press conference on May 7. However, no potentially affected sports or disciplines were mentioned there. However, colleagues from the internet portal“Inside The Games” have drawn their conclusions from the statements made at the press conference and from announcements made by the Brisbane Organizing Committee, according to which the entire planning of the competition venues will be revised again this year, but no additional costs may be incurred.

The colleagues conclude: “Disciplines that require special venues are therefore subject to closer scrutiny,” and they give examples: “mountain biking within cycling, canoe slalom as well as eventing in equestrian sports.”

What the FEI says

We have asked the World Equestrian Federation for their reaction to the IOC’s plans. They were mollified:

“No specific sport or discipline was highlighted (in the explanation of the IOC review). As always, the FEI will cooperate fully with the IOC review process and remains confident that the Olympic equestrian disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing will retain their place in the program of future Olympic Games.”

Towoomba Equestrian Centre was announced last year as the venue for the 2032 Olympic Games. It is located around two hours west of Brisbane and already has a cross-country course where international competitions are held.